Hand propelled water vehicle



June 22, 1954 PAQUETTE 2,681,459

HAND PROPELLED WATER VEHICLE Filed May 1. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l Frafi K Paqoc fie Attorney INVEMTGR F. PAQUETTE HAND PROPELLED WATER VEHICLE June 22, 1954 Filed May 1', 195g 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 22 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE HAND PROPELLED WATER VEHICLE Frank Paquette, Cape de la Madeleine, Quebec, Canada 2 Claims.

able collapsible water float having a manually operable propeller, the whole being usable as a recreational and exercising device.

With these and other objects in view that may appear as the description proceeds the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of cooperating parts as hereinafter more specifically set forth, claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing forming part of this application and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the frame of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevation of a fastening means used in this embodiment;

Figure 4 is a plan view showing the frame of the embodiment in a folded state, and

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the frame in a folded state.

Referring more in detail to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views it will be seen the invention consists of a float, and a manually operable propulsion means mounted thereon. The float consists of a frame i which may be of any suitable cross section and material, but, in the form shown is a wood board adapted for use as a seat, and a flotation member 2. A keel piece 3. which may be tapered as shown is rigidly secured to the under surface of the frame i. The flotation member 2 which in this instance is an inflatable pneumatic tube is detachably mounted on the frame I by any suitable fastening means such as the plurality of straps 4. The straps 4 are provided with terminally disposed grommets or snap fasteners 5 and are detachably fastened thereby to suitably formed studs 6 the latter being rigidly secured to any convenient surface of the frame I, e. g. the bottom. A propeller shaft 1 having a forward terminal pulley 8 and after terminal propeller Q fixed thereto is revolvably mounted in brackets ill and H which are respectively rigidly secured to the forward and after ends of the keel iece 3. A member E2 of wood or other suitable material is inwardly foldably attached to the forward end of the frame I and near one side thereof by a hinge l3 in a manner such that the bottom section of the member I2 is disposable in a cut out it formed in the frame I. The hinge i3 may be secured by any suitable fastening means, e. g. machine screws and nuts. The member I2 may be secured in an upright position relative to the frame by any suitable detachable fastening means, but, in the form shown, is securable by a screw eye l5 and a hook and eye It. The eye i5 is secured to the base of the member I2 while the hook is freely attached to one side of the frame I.

A shaft ll having a forward terminal pulley it which is vertically alignable with the said pulley 8, is revolvably mounted in the upper end of the member 12. A crank handle I9 .having a freely revolvable grip 29 is rigidly secured to the after end of the shaft [1. Bushings III and 22 serve as thrust bearings for the pulley I8 and crank handle l9. Similar bushings 23 and 24 are provided on the propeller shaft 7. The pulley It may be coupled to the pulley 8 in any suitable manner, but, as shown, is coupled by a rope belt 25.

It is believed that the construction and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the foregoing paragraphs taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings without further detailed description.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed it is understood that minor changes in the construction and arrangement of co-operating elements may be resorted to within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising an elongated frame having a plane upper surface forming a seat portion, an inflatable annular tube positioned above the upper surface of said frame and detachably secured thereto, a keel depending from the under surface of said frame, bearing brackets attached to the ends of said keel, a rotatable shaft journaled. in said bearing brackets, a propeller mounted on one end of said shaft, a pulley mounted on the opposite end of said shaft, a vertical standard mounted on the end of said frame adjacent said pulley,

a second shaft journaled in the upper end of said standard, a second pulley mounted on one end of said second shaft, an endless cable trained around said first-mentioned pulley and said second pulley, a crank connected to the opposite end of said second shaft, means hingedly connecting said standard to said frame for swinging movement towards said frame, the lower end of said standard being seated in a recess in the end of said frame and projecting below the under surface of the frame, and latching means carried by said frame for engaging the lower end of said standard to secure the standard in an upright position.

2. A device of the character described comprising an elongated frame having a plane upper surface forming a seat portion, an inflatable annular tube positioned above the upper surface of said frame, straps attached to said frame adapted to embrace said tube to detachably secure the tube to said frame, a keel depending from said frame, bearing brackets at each end of said keel, a drive shaft journaled in said bearing brackets, a propeller attached to one end of said drive shaft, a pulley attached to the opposite end of said driv shaft, a vertical standard mounted on the end of said frame adjacent said pulley having its lower end seated in a recess in the end of said frame and. depending below the lower surface of the frame, a hinge connecting said standard to the upper surface of said frame whereby the standard may be swung to fold upon said frame, a latch attached to said frame for engaging the lower end of said standard to secure the standard in an upright position, a crank mounted in the upper end of said standard, a second pulley attached to said crank and driving means connecting said second pulley with said first mentioned pulley.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,030,525 Myers June 25, 1912 1,069,327 Frisinger Aug. 5, 1913 1,169,299 Szur Jan. 25, 1916 1,793,528 Szabo Feb. 24, 1931 1,794,071 Galens Feb. 24, 1931 1,869,186" Davidson July 26, 1932 1,986,750 Ring Jan. 1, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 578,009 France Sept. 15, 1924 

